•Noris Aguayo, a third-grade teacher at Groveland Elementary School. She has taught there for five years.

•Jonathan Stalma, a 10th- and 11th- grade English/language-arts teacher at East Ridge High School. He's been at the school for seven years.

•April Von Maxey, a fourth-grade science teacher at Tavares Elementary School. She has been there for eight years.

The top teacher will be announced during a banquet Feb. 23 at Lake Receptions in Mount Dora. "We view recognition as critical for the teachers," said Carman Cullen-Batt, executive director of the Educational Foundation of Lake County, sponsor of the award.